RHTM Students Make Couple’s Dream Come True
Second Blissful Wish Wedding Event Provides Experiential Learning While Making Dreams Come True
In early November, the Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farm in Knoxville transformed into a magical setting for the second Blissful Wish Wedding, celebrating the inspiring love story of Kenzie Cathey and Tanner Branam. The event, planned and executed by 12 dedicated students from the University of Tennessee’s Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM), was the culmination of hard work done by the students since the beginning of the fall 2025 semester.
The Blissful Wish Wedding initiative provided an extraordinary opportunity for students enrolled in HTM 412 Wedding Production and Execution to gain hands-on experience in planning a real-world event. This opportunity is exclusive to students in the Hospitality and Tourism Management major at UT and represents the only university in the country where this opportunity exists.
From the initial selection process to the final execution, these students demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism. Guided by associate professor, Stefanie Benjamin, Nancy Barger of the Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farm, and Emily Walker a current PhD student in the department, the students coordinated every aspect of the wedding. The team was responsible for venue setup, vendor management, logistics planning, and guest experience design.
Throughout the semester, the students worked to solicit goods and services from local businesses, ensuring that every detail of the wedding reflected both quality and creativity. Their efforts included organizing floral arrangements, catering services, photography, entertainment, and decorations. The students also collaborated with community sponsors who generously contributed their resources to make Kenzie and Tanner’s dream wedding a reality.
“This wedding is a testament to our students’ hard work and commitment to excellence,” said Junehee Kwon, Professor and RHTM Department Head. “It’s incredible to see them apply their classroom knowledge to create such a beautiful event while learning valuable skills that will serve them well in their future careers.”
The event also served as a platform for students to showcase their ability to navigate challenges in event planning. From managing tight timelines to ensuring seamless communication between all parties involved, they exhibited remarkable teamwork and problem-solving skills. Their efforts culminated in a ceremony and stunning reception that celebrated not only Kenzie and Tanner’s love but also the power of collaboration and community support.
You can view a gallery of this year’s Blissful Wish Wedding here.
The students, along with the team they were a part of are as follows:
• Emily Wallace & Kylie Krumenacker, Lead Planners
• Ella Herring & Gabrielle Padilla, Venue and Logistics
• Jenna Moses & Carli Belknap: Catering and Cake
• Abigail Kelley, Margo Riley, Chloe Enfinger & Riley Griffith, Décor and Entertainment
• Leila Kaufman & Carly St. Laurent, Social Media and Media Relations
Sponsors:
All Mixed Up Cakes
Bice’s Bites Home Bakery
CB Media
Forever Heard Audio Guestbook
Graphic Creations
Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farm
June Lawson Photography
Prestige Tuxedo
Summer Kitchen Bakery
All Occasions Party Rental
Gluten Free Goodies
Brandon Krul (DJ)
Maddie Reed (Florals)
For more information about the Blissful Wish Wedding, to learn more about the Hospitality and Tourism Management major, or to inquire how you can support future events, contact Christopher Kelley, HTM Senior Coordinator, at ckelle15@utk.edu.